Protosolar Nitrogen

We have derived a value of ¹⁵N/¹⁴N=(2.3+/-0.3)×10^-3 in the Jovian atmosphere using data from the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer. Adopting this as the average value for nitrogen in the solar nebula leads to a consistent interpretation of other measurements of nitrogen isotopes in the solar system, once nuclear evolution in the Galaxy and ion-molecule reactions in the interstellar medium are taken into account. The result confirms the assumption that atmospheric nitrogen on Earth was not delivered as N₂ but that N₂ was the dominant form of nitrogen in the solar nebula.